Rare 1971 Ford Mustang Boss 351 is beautiful but missing a key yet subtle feature
- This 1971 Ford Mustang Boss 351 is pretty rare
- It’s made even more rare in its shade of pewter
- However, something else is missing making it one-of-one
Published on Sep 27, 2024 at 5:32 PM (UTC+4)
by Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
Last updated on Sep 30, 2024 at 12:16 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
This rare 1971 Ford Mustang Boss 351 is missing a key feature.
Aesthetically similar to the Mach 1, it featured a blacked-out hood, front and rear spoilers, and prominent side stripes.
Only 1,806 buyers drove off the forecourt with a Ford Mustang Boss 351.
However, this one is even rarer with something key missing – can you guess what it is?
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1971 Ford Mustang Boss 351
Automakers were struggling to keep muscle cars in dealerships in 1971 with strict government emission and fuel economy regulations.
Insurance rates for high-compression V8 engines had gone through the roof, too.
While big-block units like the Boss 302, Boss 429, and the 428 Cobra Jet were facing extinction, the Boss 351 was added to the lineup.
It’s considered one of Ford’s last true high-performance options.
It was powered by a powerful 351-cubic-inch (5.8-liter) Cleveland V8 delivering 330 horsepower.
What makes it more rare?
The Boss 351 is close in appearance to the Mach 1, from its blacked-out hood, front and rear spoilers, to its prominent side stripes.
Repainted in the original true-to-factory shade of Light Pewter – a color only 3.3 percent of models were painted in.
There are imperfections but even the black hood, black stripes around the rear fascia, and the ‘Boss 351’ scripts have been replicated.
What’s missing from the livery? The side stripes – check it out in this video shared by American Mustangs.
They appear to have been repainted out as there was no option to get rid of them in production.
Meanwhile, the interior also appears to be original and in overall good condition, and under the hood, the original carburetor and valve covers have been switched.
However, it’s thought the Traction-Lok differential, power steering, Deluxe steering wheel, Sport Deck rear seat, AM/FM stereo, center console, and Magnum 500 wheels remain.
That’s in addition to the 351 four-barrel engine with aftermarket valve covers and an Edelbrock intake.
It’s been sold for amounts up to $198,000 at auction.
Meanwhile, this 1958 Chevrolet Impala is missing several parts but one surprise makes it a great barn find.
This man is the only person allowed to paint lines on Rolls-Royce.
All Supercar Blondie contributors undergo editorial review and fact-checking to ensure accuracy and authority in automotive journalism. After gaining her BA Hons in French and English at the University of Nottingham, Amelia embarked on a vocational diploma from the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ). This led to numerous opportunities, from interning at Vogue to being on the small team that launched Women’s Health magazine in the UK, which was named the PPA Consumer magazine of the year for three years running. As Health, Beauty and Fitness editor, Amelia personally received a Johnson & Johnson Award and was shortlisted for both PPA and BSME titles. Since then, Amelia has created content for numerous titles and brands, including the Telegraph, 111 Skin, Waitrose, Red magazine, Stylist, and Elle, as well as being Head of Content at Vitality and Editor in Chief at INLondon magazine. “My superpower is translating technical jargon about the mechanical workings of a supercar into a relatable story you’ll want to share with your friends after you’ve read it.” After joining the SB Media family as a senior journalist in September of 2023, Amelia’s role has evolved to see her heading up the SEO output of the editorial team. From researching the most ‘Google-able’ key terms to producing evergreen content - it’s been a time of hard work, growth, and success for the editorial team and the Supercar Blondie website. “I like to think of myself as a ‘method journalist’. In other words: I live and breathe whatever I am writing about. When writing about fitness, I trained as a personal trainer, and as a beauty editor, I completed an ‘expert’ in scent diploma with the Fragrance Foundation. “During my tenure at Supercar Blondie, however, I did something I never thought possible: I passed my driving test at the age of 36. One day I’d love to train as a mechanic to better understand what happens under the hood, too. “My sweet spot is providing readers with a ‘takeaway’ (read: something new they didn’t know before) after reading every one of my stories. While I don’t claim to be an expert in the automotive world, I know the experts and bodies in the field to rely on to provide our readers with an informative and thought-provoking story every time they visit the site.”
